Kenji Peter Aoki sentenced for 2019 Hume Highway two-vehicle crash
A man extradited to NSW has been sentenced for a drug-affected two-vehicle Hume Highway crash on a public holiday, involving four other people, causing his former girlfriend to be flown to hospital.
The Bowral News
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A man well-known to ACT police and extradited to NSW has been sentenced for a drug-affected Hume Highway crash on a public holiday, injuring four people and causing his former girlfriend to be flown to hospital.
Kenji Peter Aoki, 40, appeared on Wednesday via audio-visual link for his sentence at Goulburn Local Court.
He previously pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing grievous bodily harm, bodily harm by misconduct, driving a motor vehicle while licence suspended and failing to appear in accordance with bail acknowledgment.
According to the police fact sheet tendered to the court, on October 7, 2019 Aoki was driving a Toyota Corolla on the Hume Highway near Marulan, while under the influence of methamphetamine. His girlfriend at the time, Danielle Birch, was in the front passenger seat.
Police facts state they were driving on a public holiday and in addition to regular long weekend traffic, there were thousands of sport fans returning home from Sydney to Canberra, as the Canberra Raiders were in thewe 2019 NRL grand final.
Lawyer Jacqueline Gore said the couple went to Sydney to get a laptop, and on their way back Ms Birch, then 27, became tired at the wheel.
Aoki offered to drive her car despite being aware he was on a cocktail of drugs, and subsequently fell asleep at the wheel.
Court documents reveal that at about midday near Highland Way, he rear-ended a Hyundai, driving with two passengers. The impact of the crash pushed both cars into a nature median, where they collided into trees and vegetation.
Data from the car’s airbag revealed he was travelling 126km/h in a 110km/h zone.
Documents say Ms Birch sustained serious injuries from the crash, suffering spinal and pelvic fractures, as well as fractures to her right leg, ankle and foot.
She was first taken to Goulburn Base Hospital, then flown to Canberra Hospital, where she had to undertake pelvic surgery.
Ms Gore said Aoki’s relationship of seven years with Ms Birch came to an end due to the crash and his drug use.
Documents state the driver of the Hyundai, Daniel Buitendam, then 24, sustained injuries to his right foot and ankle, including dislocating his toe, which required surgery, as well as laceration of another toe.
Mr Buitendam’s two passengers, then 24 and 23, had minor injuries and did not need to go to hospital.
Aoki was also injured and was taken to Goulburn Base Hospital.
Facts state that after the collision, he denied taking any prohibited drugs, only taking prescription Panadeine Forte and Valium for a spinal injury.
However, court documents show a hospital blood analysis identified a cocktail of drugs of more than 0.79mg, including amphetamine, methamphetamine, diazepam, nordiazepam, oxazepam and temazepam.
An expert report found he had taken drugs “to the extent that his driving ability would have been significantly impaired”.
Aoki failed to appear at Goulburn Local Court on December 1, 2020 as part of his bail conditions and was extradited to NSW on January 13, 2022, where he was arrested at Queanbeyan Police Station.
Magistrate Geraldine Beattie said to Aoki that the “major crash would’ve never happened if (he) didn’t make the selfish decision to drive while suspended and on drugs”.
“It’s a Monday, a public holiday, the roads are busy and there’s lots of publicity of double demerits,” Ms Beattie said.
“That particular weekend was also the weekend of the football grand final, so traffic was a large factor.
“The answer is to pull over, get some rest, get some air, or stay somewhere overnight.”
According to court documents, Aoki is well-known to police in ACT for drug, firearm, robbery, stolen vehicle and property related offences.
Documents state he also has an extensive history of speeding, using unregistered uninsured motor vehicles, driving while suspended and unlicensed, and having unrestrained passengers in the vehicle.
Ms Gore said that Aoki intended to complete drug and alcohol rehab, “having now reached 40 and come to a point in his life where he knows he needs intervention”.
He also expressed remorse in a letter provided to the court where he apologised to the people, police and services involved in the crash.
Ms Beattie said he was “likely to reoffend” and that the offences required “specific and general deterrence”.
Kenji Peter Aoki was sentenced to 20 months’ imprisonment with 12 months non parole, backdated to January 13, 2022.
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